Many older workers have difficult jobs that put them at risk

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Overview • Read the Report

Summary: Significant numbers of Americans over 50 endure difficult working conditions, including physically taxing, dangerous and stressful jobs—jobs that often don’t even pay enough to allow them to ever retire.
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Key findings
50.3% of older workers have physically demanding jobs.

54.2% of older workers are exposed to unhealthy or hazardous conditions.

46.1% of older workers have high-pressure jobs.

53.7% of older workers have difficult schedules.

https://www.epi.org/publication/older-workers-difficult-jobs/

[viva la]

1. I actually have a sedentary office job--

But for some reason the boss ignores every request for a decent office chair. My spine is suffering. I'm going to have to go to HR and threaten an ADA action.

I was just in the grocery and there was a woman older than me-- probably 75-- who was working at the cash register, standing for hours at a time on the concrete floor. I can't imagine what that is doing to her spine and knees and hips.

Why do so many employers refuse to do something cheap and sensible like provide healthy chairs? You can sit at a cash register, after all.

[kimbutgar]

3. In parts of Europe employees who are cashiers can sit on stools while checking out customers

Whenever I see an elderly looking person in a store as a clerk standing for hours I feel sorry for them. A lady I knew in a store i could tell she was having trouble standing and I told her about Europe and to see if she could sit while checking out. The next time I went into the store she was sitting on a stool checking out people with a big smile on her face.

[viva la]

4. That's good

It's weird that such a simple fix seems to be something the employer won't offer.

[inthewind21]

2. That

list sounds like just about every job out there. I'd like to find the job myself that is not physically demanding, in the healthiest place ever, with no pressure and an easy schedule!

[Zeitghost]

5. I've noticed

Those over 50 with "physically demanding" jobs are much healthier on average than those over 50 with sedentary jobs. Many an old timer has assured me that the key to growing old is don't stop moving or doing physically challenging things.

When I ask my 75 year old tanker truck driving father (proud teamster) when he's going to stop climbing in and out of his rig all day and stop dragging hoses around and give his back and knees a rest says he thinks that's exactly what keeps him young and moving. i tend to think he's right.